15 Days of Giving

Yes, there are 12 days of Christmas, but why not 15 days of giving?! Check out this list for all the simple actions you can take to help out others in need this year - you'll even find some GREAT gifts for those hard to buys on your list!

December 10th: Kick off this holiday month right by checking out Oxfam Unwrapped - the fab site that lets you buy bikes, chickens, safe water and all sorts of great things for villages in need!

December 11th: Give the gift of your wisdom! That's right, there's are loads of kidlets out there just waiting to hear all the amazing advice you have on clothes, boys, coffee, well pretty much life! Kids.now provides you with everything you need to become a fantastic mentor!

December 12th: Grab a gift card from Just Give for a friend and they can redeem it to donate to a charity of their choice.

December 13th: Bring home a furry friend. Or find a mate for a friend and head to your nearest adoption to centre to bring a little buddy home just in time for the holidays.
December 14th: Buy (Red) Products for everyone! There's cute tees, rings and candles for

your girlfriends, wicked headphones for your beau and even Penguin Classic books for that hard to buy boss - all helping to eliminate AIDS in Africa.

December 15th: Help Abused Women. Mimi + You is a fantastic handmade jewelry company that makes gorgeous and statement necklace pieces - all their proceeds from their Celebrate

Courage line goes to support abused womens' shelter.
December 16th: Find an Elegant Gift with Charity Buzz. Your cousin that loves Lady Gaga -

no problem bid on VIP tickets! Your mom that ohs and ahs over the sexy Ralph Lauren - get her a trip to meet him in person! And the best part is, all the proceeds from these extravagant gifts go

directly to charity!

December 17th: Feed a Hungry Kid in South Africa through the Lunchbox Fund - or get a gift for your family by sponsoring a child for a whole year for only $80!

December 18th: Get Your Colleagues cute office slippers from TOMS. For each pair sold, another pair is sent to a child in a developing country.

December 19th: Keep Mosquitos away. Every 30 seconds a child in Africa dies from Malaria.

Send two mosquito safety nets through World Vision in honor of pretty much anyone on your Christmas list.

December 20th: Become Worldly. With jewelry, skirts, rings, and shoes from all over the world - you can get your girlfriends, mom, or even yourself ;) a fabulous gift from Live Worldly that supports local charities in the artisans' home countries.

December 21st: Support Learning! What about getting your little cousins, nieces and nephews a cool, totally gross gift that their parents' won't hate you for! Check out Elephant Thoughts and all their great eco-friendly gifts for the science nerd in everyone!

December 22nd: Give Cuddles to kids who need it the most. Noah's Ark helps abused children through amazing pet therapy - your donation helps pays for the basics like dog food (they go through 800 pounds a year), new clothing and toys.

December 23rd: Make a Wish come true by buying a wrapped toy and delivering it

straight to the many drop offs for the Chum Christmas Wish.

December 24th: Indulge in the gorgeous handmade jewelry by the female Ugandan artisans of Beads for Life. Not only are the colors and patterns stunning, buteach purchase is helping to end poverty in Ugandan villages.

December 25th: Make this holiday the best. Take a moment today to look around you at all the amazing things life has given you. Great friends, great food, great gifts, great family (even if they're insane!) and okay, great wine. Appreciate what you have, and then vow to make things

better for others - even if it's as simple as these actions - buying a funky gift, clicking and learning more, or making a tiny donation - YOU ARE making a difference!

* A big thank you to GLAMOUR Magazine for giving me the idea for this article - if you get a chance check out this month's "31 Days Giving" Article - it's all American charities, but it's really great!

Charity Buzz - How to Do Good and Live Well

While doing some research for our Think Pink Month piece (more to come), I stumbled across one of the most innovative, interesting and fun fundraising sites I have seen in a long while.

The concept is relatively simple - people like auctions and people like donating money (in theory)...what if you could not only donate money - and in fairly large amounts - which also buys you something that is completely unusual, fabulous and frivolous? The answer is CharityBuzz.

CharityBuzz showcases a collection of super rare items being sold on auction, with the proceeds going to the seller's charity of choice. All the items are completely unique trips and experiences, like a tour by Ralph Lauren himself of his world famous car collection, an opportunity to star in a new horror movie, or VIP backstage pass tickets to Lady Gaga - each one of which support a great cause!

These auction items are in some cases ridiculously expensive - a dinner reservation at NY's Rao restaurant is currently going for $7500....and that's just for the table, not the food! - but some of the items are the perfect gift for those tough-to-buys, or the best way to spoil yourself.

With causes and organizations like the Ralph Lauren Pink Pony, the Lollipop Theatre Network, and the World Wildlife Fund it's definitely worth a peek at all the drool-worthy items on sale.

What's Not to LOVE about Ted Talks?

Ted Talk's tagline ran continually through my head as I sat listening yesterday at Tedx Toronto - "ideas worth sharing"......which definitely are the perfect words to encompass all that Ted is about. Because that's what it is - ideas. Ideas from innovators, authors, poets, creators, buisnessmen - all coming together over a love of knowledge.

Speakers are given 20 minutes, just 20 minutes, to inspire you, challenge you and teach you...or sometimes, even turn your world upsidedown.

As I sat in a conference room at MaRS, full of people drinking cans of pop and clutching their Tim Hortons, frantically typing into their blackberries and ipads (yes, this is the universe of nerdom, but cool nerds), trying to keep in touch with the offices they have left for the day to spend at TED. I thought to myself, that this sight proves that knowledge is power. Not in the traditional sense, but that knowledge has power. It has the power to make you think for days, the power to start conversation, the power to change your views, the power to bring people together, and possibly the power to create peace.

Okay, okay, I've gotten a little hyperbolic, but if you've seen a TED talk that's stuck with you, then you know what I am talking about. If you haven't, then see one NOW, at the very least, it will give you something to talk about at your next cocktail party.

Become a Hero for your charity, your community or just yourself!

Ever sold magazines, girl guide cookies, or coupon books to help raise money for the charity you love and support? Ever done it in the rain, or the snow, or the blistering cold? What if you could fundraise and raise awareness right from your computer?

Well that's exactly what actor Edward Norton decided needed to be done. He created Crowdrise, a hot new site that's already raised over $250,000 for organizations all over the world - and it was only launched in May! Crowdrise is hip, sassy and fun - and what would you expect from a site that's tagline is "if you don't give back no one will like you". Ed has even recruited some of his famous friends to join the site, so Crowdrise becomes a place where stars and volunteers alike can mingle and shmooze over the causes they love!

The best part is it's easy to raise money, give money, or even just learn about different organizations and causes. You can support Sophia Bush's and her Run for the Gulf, or you can learn all about Alzheimer's with Seth Rogen, or even give puppies a great big hug with Kristen Bell.

It's got a competitive aspect as well, so Get Involved would recommend checking out this list of organizations to support and start fundraising for them on Crowdrise, because "volunteering and raising money for charity is the most fun in the world!"

Every Cat Deserves a Home

By: Jinny Wong

Imagine seeing your family drive away and leave you behind.

That’s what many furry little friends go through everyday as families move, or are no longer able to care for their pets.

Some cats are found in dumpsters with frostbites, worms and poisoned by humans who see them as a nuisances.

At North Toronto Cat Rescue, their mission is to provide a safe and caring environment for all cats and kittens. They provide veterinary care and support during recovery, and help to find the cats a “forever home”.

They are unique because they not only support a no-kill policy, but also a no-cage policy. That means the felines they take in are free to run around and play, leading a lifestyle as close to a real home as possible.

The NRTC is also apart of a community project where school children can come in to gain hands on experience caring for animals. This type of community service provides a valuable learning environment for both the children and the cats, adjusting to their new surroundings.

Visit the NRTC website for a complete listing of their adoptees, fun bumper stickers, and for more information on their volunteer/donation programs. They are currently in urgent need of a grant letter writer, and people to join the shelter team.

The NRTC annual fundraiser will be held at Simeon Park on Sunday, August 15th from 10am-6pm. This event is open to the public and is sponsored by Magna International Inc.

Taking care of business: 8 tactics to change the world while you work

Written and Edited by Lisa Borden, idea girl + owner of Borden Communications + Design Inc.

What did you want to be when you grew up? Do you remember when you were a kid and you thought you could do anything? You still can. Despite your age, or where you fall on the eco-spectrum, your actions have an impact, so make it positive for all of us that share your world. Whether you’re the boss or the employee, whether you sit at a desk, stand in a store or stay at home, you can change the world while you work (which, consequently, is truly, impressive multitasking).

Your office might have already gone “green” or you may still be waiting to be given the “green” light – regardless, you have the power to be a catalyst for more change. Even though your days are cluttered and perhaps even overwhelming, if you focus on the below 8 tactics, you will change the world while you take care of business. As a bonus (which we all deserve), you will save time, save money and save your health.

1. Lighten your commute. We spend five to seven percent of our lives in transit. If you have to travel to work, make your commute easier – on you, your wallet and our environment. Don't drive if you don't have to. The cheapest litre of gas is the one you don’t buy and you’ll save on parking too.

2. Make your own + take your own. Whoa. Where to start? Perhaps it’s as simple as making your own coffee at home in a reusable travel mug. If you do choose to stop at your local café and get a snack, refuse the napkin (ok, now you really have to eat carefully and avoiding driving seems to make even more sense), don’t take the bag that becomes garbage immediately, or take your own reusable “baggie”. Stash reusable cutlery in your desk drawer, tote a high quality stainless steel water bottle around (refill with tap often), take your own lunch, and if you do takeout, skip the ketchup packet, straw and paper napkin. And, take your own containers. Really. People might stare, but I guarantee, you’ll start a trend pretty quickly. If you are saving money, saving time, eating healthier and helping the planet, how can you lose? Exactly.

Resources: TakeOut WithOut Campaign and Healthy Lunches Guide

3. Boycott something. Your consumer decisions matter. Every single one of them. Decide to ban something - perhaps disposable coffee cups or paper clips. Take a stand, stay strong, and leverage the power of people to spark a workplace revolution.

4. Smile at Someone. Do you believe that smiling makes you feel good, provides stress relief, and leads to good health? It sounds hokey, but it’s actually backed by some serious research. We spend so much time staring at our computer screens and handheld gizmos that we need to look at other people more and make them smile too.

5. Demand less supply. Why do you need an entire box of toxic pens? Try keeping 3 pens in your possession at a time. I have found that I keep track of them more and the mystery of the vanishing pen no longer is a daily occurrence. Encourage your office to order only what is required, and, purchase from responsible companies making responsible products. Paper made from post-consumer waste (although the more you do online the better), ink cartridges that are recycled, pvc-free pens and stapleless staplers among other supplies all make a big difference when we all choose to use (or not use) them.

6. Trash The Can. When you throw things away, where do you think "away" is? There is no such place. Reuse what you can and CUT BACK. If you looked at the overflowing city garbage cans you may have noted that it was mostly individual or fast food packaging, coffee cups, straws, paper bags and drink bottles – all of which we can use less of for ourselves and our world. Choose to use small trash cans in your office and encourage smart recycling and composting policies and procedures.

7. Turn it off. Sure, we all work hard, but why are all of those office building lights still on at 3am? Your cell phone charger that is plugged in (that is warm even when not charging), the wireless printer that is always on (we see the glowing light) and that computer you never shut down are all offenders in the perpetual energy (and bank account) drain. Unplug, people! Get power strips with an on/off switch, and turn it off when you turn off.

8. Find a champion…or be one. Inspire your workplace to institute policies. Take action to reform the food served, and the way food is brought into the office or meetings. A passionate, informed, persuasive and committed champion can be an effective cheerleader and major force in creating healthier and happier workplaces.

Your “greener” workday will mean a healthier, more focused and more confident you. Your workplace will be a more pleasant and productive environment to spend your days, which will only be good for everyone around you and will likely, positively, affect the bottom line also. So, don’t hide under your desk. The world needs a raise, and likely you do too.

Lisa Borden is an eco-advocate and mother of three, whose full-service marketing firm, Borden Communications + Design Inc., is a direct reflection of her commitment to better, more responsible living. She is a dedicated workaholic, admitting that it takes a lot of time and effort to change the world, especially in her non-preachy, fun, engaging and inspiring ways.

Want to learn more about Lisa Borden and Borden Communications? Check out our Get Involved episode!

Penny for your jokes

By Jinny Wong

If you thought that a honed sense of humour was just good for a few laughs, think again.

Early this month, Gulf Restoration Network official Aaron Viles was pleasantly surprised to find that someone tweeting as @BPGlobalPRdeposited $10,000 into the organization’s Paypal account. The donator refuses to be named publicly but calls himself “Leroy Stick (aka a guy in his boxer shorts)”.

The money was raised by selling T-shirts simply decorated in dripping black paint with the words “bp cares”—a direct satire about the way BP has been handling the disaster.

He told the Huffington Post that he “started @BPGlobalPR, because the oil spill had been going on for almost a month and all BP had to offer were bullshit PR statements. No solutions, no urgency, no sincerity, no nothing. That’s why I decided to relate to the public for them.”

@BPGlobalPR began with just a few followers and a guy with a knack for jokes. As his popularity grew to the thousands—he decided that this would be a greatway to raise money for an organization that is actually doing something to help out this catastrophe.

Order your very own “bp cares” tee

To find out more about Leroy Stick and the amusing back-story to that name, visit: http://streetgiant.com/2010/06/02/leroy-stick-the-man-behind-bpglobalpr/

Donate directly to the Gulf Restoration Network, or to send a message to BP calling on them clean up their mess.

This is a great example of how someone can utilize social media to make a difference. To do the same for your cause, please visit:http://blog.powerofthehour.ca/2010/01/social-media-and-the-common-good/

Funding Opportunity for Small Charities

AtlasCare's Care to Share program provides local initiatives and organizations with an opportunity to receive $1,000, as well as promotion through Atlas Care's many media tools (ie website, press releases, ect).

There are many worthwhile causes doing important work. The Care to Share program includes not only the larger, better-known charities, but also the smaller local causes that can include fundraising and charity events in Toronto, Mississauga, Oakville, or anyplace within the AtlasCare service area. This opportunity is available every month and even volunteers can nominate the charity they work with. Winners are selected by a random draw and not based on the quality of the submission. Our donation program can make a difference for your charity. Apply today!

The Robin Hood Tax

Around the world, momentum is building behind a tiny tax on bankers that could generate billions of dollars to help with problems at home and overseas.

It has been given different names in different countries – the ‘Robin Hood’ tax in the United Kingdom and ‘ steuergegenarmut’ or ‘tax against poverty’ in Germany, but we are all talking about the same thing. A tiny tax on the transactions of big banks that could deliver billions of dollars to help ordinary people and fight poverty around the world.

It is estimated a levy of only around 0.05% on financial transactions could generate between $200-$700 billion worldwide. Campaigners in the UK, France, Germany and elsewhere propose the revenue be spent on:

- domestic public services supporting ordinary people who have been badly affected by the recent crisis,


- world poverty reduction

- helping poor countries to adapt to climate change.

Put another way, this tax could help solve most of the world’s major problems, without costing ordinary citizens a penny.

The Robin Hood site features videos, blogs, facts and even a live voting calculator to see the results of these actions (current tally: YES: 83974 votes
NO: 7934 votes)

Ways to Take Action and Spread the Word:

Check out an event coming up in downtown Toronto!

Join the Robin Hood facebook group to get instant details about the votes and the progress of the tax.

Oxfam's spreading the word too! Check out their page on the Robin Hood tax!

And check out the events page to find out ways you can take action and join their band of merry (wo)men. http://robinhoodtax.org.uk/category/action/1-current-actions/?catno=27

Water Education 101

“Is water a commercial good like running shoes or Coca-Cola? Or is water a human right like air”? This is the question proposed by Maude Barlow in “Water on the Table” (airing Wednesday, March 24 at 10pm on TVO).

When the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights was drafted over 50 years ago, water was not included in the list of protected rights. The rationale was simple. Water, like air, was considered so fundamental to life that naming a right to it would have been redundant.

However in more recent years, there has been pressure to privatize water in developing countries. Water Privatization is an issue in constant debate - having both negative and positive side effects. Originally, water privatization provided hope that there could be better distribution, less waste and more realistic pricing, but protesters and debaters everywhere think this will only result in rate increases, decreases in water quality, and loss of accountability.

Maude Barlow is the leader of this movement to end water privatization. Commonly known as the "Water Warrior", she sees water privatization as a loss of one of our basic human rights: “Water must be declared a public trust and a human right that belongs to the people, the ecosystem and the future, and preserved for all time and practice in law. Clean water must be delivered as a public service, not a profitable commodity.” And it is the Third World countries that have suffered the most from water privatization, “12 percent of the world’s population uses 85 percent of its water, and these 12 percent do not live in the Third World.” It is the Third World that struggles the most with severe water shortages. Just take a look at these statistics:

• Roughly 1.1 billion people in developing countries have inadequate access to clean water
• Most of the world's people must walk at least three hours to fetch water
• 1.8 million children die every year as a result of diseases caused by unclean water and poor sanitation. This amounts to around 5000 deaths a day.
• The water and sanitation crisis claims more lives through disease than any war claims through guns.

And as times goes by, these statistics will get worse. With our rapid population growth, the percentage of people without access to clean water is expected to double. There are arguments for both sides, but one thing that can not be argued is that something MUST be done. Either way, water should be safe, affordable, and accessible to everyone – not just those who can afford to pay.

Learn more about the Water Warrior and her plight to end water privatization in the new Canadian documentary, "Water on the Table" airing March 24th at 10pm on TVO's Water Week.

Want to know more? Check out these other great resources:

The Blue Planet Project, a initiative created by Barlow - discusees the issues raised by water privatizations and provides alternatives. There is also several options for individuals to take action.

Food and Water Watch - an extremely informative tracking site and a non-profit organization working with grassroots organizations around the world to create an economically and environmentally viable future. It's mandate states “We have the right to know where our food comes from with accurate labeling and we have the right to clean, affordable, publicly owned water.” Consumer tools and action tools provides readers with useful knowledge and easy ways to get involved.

The Program on Water Issues - a discussion forum that provides readers to learn, express, or even jump in on the collaborative research

Water Week On TVO (March 21-27)

• 2.5 billion people in the world don't have access to adequate sanitation - that's two fifths of the entire world's population!
• 97.5% of the earth's water is saltwater. If the world's water could fit into a bucket, only one teaspoon would be drinkable.
• A person can live a month without food, but only about a week without water.

Makes you think doesn't it?

Monday March 22 is World Water Day and UN-Water has chosen “Communicating Water Quality Challenges and Opportunities” as its theme. To mark the day, TVO will air a week of water-themed programming featuring the world premiere of the Canadian documentary Water on the Table, and encores of films that examine political, economic and environmental issues dealing with water quality and availability. Get Involved is partnering with TVO to support this fantastic endeavor to spread water education.

Check out TVO's Water Week schedule here:

Water on the Table

March 24th at 10pm (repeated March 28th at 10:30pm)

Is water a human right, or a commodity to be bought and sold like gold and oil? That’s the question at the heart of this timely new documentary by filmmaker Liz Marshall. Over the course of a year in Canada and the United States, the film follows Canadian activist Maude Barlow as she campaigns against the privatization of water and tries to bring attention to how industry is polluting the water table.

A World Without Water

March 21st at 8pm

Filmmaker Brian Woods examines the dramatic impact of the battle for water ownership on the lives of four disparate groups of people in Bolivia, India, Tanzania and the heart of the planet’s richest nation, the United States.

Toxic Trespass

March 21st at 10:30pm

Filmmaker Barri Cohen investigates the effects of the chemicals all around us, beginning with her 10-year-old daughter, whose blood carries carcinogens like benzene and the long-banned DDT. She heads to Windsor and Sarnia, Ontario, identified as Canadian toxic hotspots, with startling clusters of deadly diseases.

Strait Through the Ice

March 24th at 7pm

Scientists and explorers weigh in on how the melting of Arctic polar ice, opening up the Northwest Passage, can be both an ecological catastrophe and a commercial godsend.

National Geographic's Extreme Ice

March 27th at 7pm

Photojournalist James Balog and his team conduct the largest photographic study of the cryosphere (the portions of the Earth’s surface where water is in solid form and ground is frozen) ever attempted – in order to assess the rapid glacier melt and its implications on the future environment of our planet.

Learn more at TVO's Facebook Page or reading the Water Week Press Release!

Get Green by Going off the Grid!

Green is the new hot color these days, and new eco-friendly

inventions are popping up all over the place. But what if you could take your house almost entirely off the municipal grid? No more heating, electricity or water bills to pay and no more pesky garbage strikes to deal with! Toronto uses over 1.4 billion liters of water everyday, much of which is wasted and flushed.

Our featured video this month introduces Rolf Paloheimo; who decided his Toronto home would not fall into these wasteful trends. As an inventor and a builder, Rolf created a water filtration process that recycles and purifies rainwater, composed his floors out of composted glass particles and blue box materials and designed a solar panel system that provides electricity for the entire family. Watch the video to take a look at his unique and fabulous downtown Toronto home.

Celebrate Recreation and Parks Month this June

You CAN feel it now – summer is more than a rumour. It’s graduated to distinct possibility and soon… a full-on fact! How can you take best advantage of that fact this month? How about by celebrating Recreation and Parks Month – with an absolutely jam-packed menu of events and fun.
Parks and Recreation Ontario, the Ontario Parks Association, and the Ontario Recreation Facilities Association chose June as the month to draw attention to the value of recreation and to encourage people to get out there and “Live it everyday”. Frankly, I’ve always known the value of recreation (!) but even I could use a comprehensive listing of all the terrific events planned for June.
Check out the Calendar and click on any day. (Or all of them!) You’ll find a ton of listings with ideas and activities for everyone in your family. Here’s a small sampling of what’s on offer this month: swimming, tennis workshops, family rollerblading events, beach volleyball tournaments, community barbecues, walks, fitness boot camps and even a teddy bear’s picnic for grandparents and kids.
If you represent an organization and would like to get your event listed, go to the JRPM Ambassador page and register – then download your event onto the calendar to let everyone know how you’re celebrating this month.

LIVE GREEN TORONTO- Great Resource

LIVE GREEN TORONTO

The City of Toronto has a terrific website dedicated to sharing information and great and innovative ideas for living green – and friendly! Check it out here: Green Toronto There are tips for conserving energy and recycling in your home… great ideas for alternatives to traditional transportation… and ways and means for getting your community involved in “green” and healthy projects. You can ask advice from experts or share your own thoughts and tips.
You’ll also find rebates for taking simple steps, grants to apply for to turn your community ideas into reality, and awards offered for people who are doing their part – and more – to help Toronto to become part of a healthier planet.
Current deadlines:
February 27th: get your nominations in for the 2009 Green Toronto Awards. The awards honour excellence and celebrate individuals and organizations walking the walk to make Toronto a greener, cleaner and more liveable city for all of us.
If you know someone who is making a difference, nominate them now. Hurry – nominations are closing in just a few days! Click here to find at more and fill in the on-line nomination form: Green Toronto Awards
March 2nd is the deadline for applying for grants for community projects in the City of Toronto through the Live Green Toronto Program. Grantees can receive human and financial resources to undertake collective action on climate change, clean air and sustainable energy.
Click here: Live Green Grants for more information and links to the program guidelines, eligibility requirements and online applications.